Benito H Esquilin

NORWALK, CONN. Benito H. Esquilin, a resident of Norwalk, passed away on Saturday, June 14, 2008 in Norwalk Hospital after a lengthy illness. He was 71. Born in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico on May 21, 1937, he was the son of the late Juan Benigno Maldonado Esquilin and Gregoria Hernandez. He was educated in local schools and at the age of eighteen, migrated to Norwalk, Connecticut. In 1960, Benito married his wife, Rosa Maldonado and raised three children in Norwalk. He was employed by the Norwalk Board of Education where he was a custodian and also worked for Fabrizio Bus Transportation as a school bus driver. He subsequently retired from Norwalk Transit District, as a bus driver, after ten years of service. Additionally, he owned and operated the former "Las Americas Grocery" store on Fort Point Street, here in Norwalk for ten years. Benito enjoyed playing dominos, cooking and spending time with his family and friends. A devout Catholic, he was a member of St. Joseph R.C. Church of Norwalk. He is survived by two sons, William D. Esquilin of Norwalk and Wilton A. Esquilin and wife; a daughter, Eisabell Garcia and her husband, Edwin Garcia of Norwalk; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a brother, Miguel Maldonado of Puerto Rico; two sisters, Genoveva Maldonado and Antonia Orlando, both of Puerto Rico; several nieces and nephews. Benito's family will receive relatives and friends in Norwalk's Hoyt-Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 5 East Wall Street on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 from 9:00AM to 10:00AM. His funeral will follow at the conclusion of calling hours from the funeral parlor, when the funeral cortege will proceed to St. Joseph R.C. Church, 85 S. Main Street, Norwalk, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30AM. Interment will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Norwalk. To view Benito's video tribute, press the "View A Video" button on this page.